Bettersworld
Sunday December 16
Cardinals at Saints - Another game that still holds some drama as both teams still alive for the Wild Card. We're looking for a big bounce back week from the Cards. Last week was a major disappointment as the Cards were spanked 42-21 by Seattle. But that has not been the norm for this team. Other than last week, they have been in every game they have played this year and this week should be no different. Saints had it easy with the Falcons last week. Party's over now. We like the Cards straight up here - Cardinals +3.5
Falcons at Bucs - Tampa Bay really needs Jeff Garcia back in the line up and figures to get him back this week. They can actually clinch the division with a win here and while you need to use caution this time of year in games that look easy, there's only one way to go here. The Falcons are a bad team in general, but are worse than bad on the road. While the bulk of Tampa Bats success this year comes on the home field where they are 501 and putting up some nice numbers, especially on defense. 13 is a big number, but hey, the Bucs beat them 31-7 in Atlanta last time out. Bucs -13
Ravens at Miami - No playoff drama in this one but we do have the drama of the Dolphins potentially going winless on the year. Guess what though? This is actually a game they can win. Do you realize how bad the Ravens are on the road? They are 1-5 with yards per point numbers of 21.7 and 10.4 -11.3....which basically means they can't score, but teams have no problem scoring on them. Miami's home numbers are not as bad as the Ravens road numbers. But they are still bad. What's funny about this Dolphin streak is that Miami ends up getting their opponents best efforts because no one wants to be the team to lose to the Dolphins. We'll take a shot here. Dolphins +3.5
Bills at Browns - Plenty of juice for this game as both teams are right in the middle of the playoff picture, with the Browns at 8-5 and the Bills at 7-6. But the difference in this game figures to be the venue. The Browns are 5-1 at home and averaging 31 points per game while the Bills are 3-3 on the road and averaging just 11 points per game. 11 points against the Browns offense won't cut it. Browns -5.5
Packers at Rams - Again, you need to use caution in these types of set ups towards the end of an NFL season. Year after year we see games that look like a piece of cake only to see an upset take place, or, simply a non cover. So we're not all that interested in laying 10 points here but it's the only way to go with a Packer team clicking on all cylinders going up against a Ram team with banged up QB's that they can't win with when they are healthy! Packers -10
Jaguars at Steelers - Both of these teams having success running the ball which explains the move on the total from 39 to 37. This game has all the makings of a classic low scoring pound the ball war. As long as you can get under 37 or better the total may be worth a look. For the side, these two teams figure to give us some excitement in the upcoming playoffs as both teams can play with anybody. Well, anybody but the Pats I guess. Having said that you'd figure perhaps we'd be on the dog here. But this is also the time of year where the home field advantage really starts to show. With a 7-0 home record and winning by an average of 26-9, the Steelers home field edge is one of the strongest in the NFL. That decides this one - Steelers -3.5
Jets at Pats - Since drama is the name of the game this week in these write ups, perhaps this one takes the cake. Remember, it was the Jets and Mangini who blew the whistle on his mentor, Belichick and the Patriots. Most contribute that to being the motivating force behind the Patriots mission to destroy everyone they face. The Patriots highest point out put this year was 56 against the Bills. You'd have to imagine that topping that mark would be one of their goals this week. If Belichick can score 70 this week, he will. But not so fast my friends. Mother Nature like to throw us some curves this time of year. They are calling for a snow storm Saturday in the Northeast, and a play on this game will depend on the timing of that storm. We think the Pats can go over the total all by themselves in this one and providing the storm isn't hitting right at game time, that's how we'll play this one. Over 46.5
Seahawks at Panthers - Two things can happen this time of year in the NFL. One, teams that are supposed to win, don't. Or, teams that are supposed to win, and are in their playoff groove, dominate. Seattle looks to be a team that could dominate the rest of the way. They have one of the better defenses in the NFL when using yards per point as a barometer. That number drops slightly when they go on the road, however, that may not matter as the Panthers numbers offensively are worse at home than on the road. They are on a 1-7 straight up run compared to the Seahawks who are winners of 5 straight and 6 of the last 7. Panthers don't look good enough to play spoiler. Seahawks -7.5
Titans at Chiefs - This is a dangerous spot for the Titans. Giving last weeks game away to the Chargers may come back to haunt them. The Titans fit the mode as a team that just has to win out to make the playoffs, but can't. Do or die here against a Chiefs team with nothing to lose. The Titans numbers on the road are terrible. How about a defensive yards per point of 13.7. That's bad. The Chiefs tend to win at home in December, even when they aren't very good. The aren't very good this year, but the Titans are at best even with the Chiefs when playing on the road. So, we call the upset here - Chiefs +3.5
Colts at Raiders - The Colts are on a collision course with the Patriots. While the Raiders have held their own this year and are an improved football team, The Colts seem to be putting everything in place for the playoff run as shown in their 44-20 destruction of the Ravens. More of the same this week Colts -10.5
Lions at Chargers - Every time you think you can stick a fork in the Chargers they pull a rabbit out of the hat. They had no business winning last week, and yet.......perhaps it was meant to be this year. There should be little doubt in the outcome of this one though. The Chargers at home this year have been terrific, while the Lions have been terrible on the road. The Lions have been outscored on the road to the tune of 32-17 while the Chargers averages at home are 25-15. The Lions defensive yards per point number on the road is 12 (offense is 17) while the Chargers weigh in with a 11.5 on offense and a 19.5 on defense. What does that mean? It means that the Chargers will likely not have much difficulty putting points on the board Sunday while the Lions figure to struggle. After last weeks near upset of the Cowboys, it looks like this one won't even be close. Chargers -10
Eagles at Cowboys - There's little doubt in the outcome in this one. It's the spread we're not sure about. The Cowboys win with offense. They have the most potent offense in the NFL and can score often on any defense out there. While the Eagles don't exactly light it up on the road. When you look at the Eagles road results, you see more than a couple of games where they didn't score more than 17 points. Their average on the road is 19 points per game and looking at the season as a whole, they didn't top the 17 point mark in 7 of their 13 games. Meanwhile the Cowboys average 32 points per game and reach the 30 points figure just about every time they take the field. After last weeks close call we'd expect them to leave no doubt this week. The Eagles won't be able to keep up on the scoreboard as the final nail is driven into the Phillies coffin. Cowboys -10
Redskins at Giants - Ah yes. Nothing better than an NFC East clash in December with playoff implications as a winter storm looms on the horizon. The Redskins hanging by a thread here while the Giants look to be playoff locks. But one thing can be counted on when the Redskins take the field this year......a close game (with the exception of the Pats game of course). 11 of the Skins 13 games were decided by a touchdown and 2 point conversion, or less. What assures that the Redskins will be in this one to the end is the Giants defense and the fact that this game is in New York. The Giants have played their best ball on the road this year. At home they are 3-3 and that defense has a yards per point number of 11.2.......pathetic. For those conspiracy buffs out there, consider this as well. The NFL and NBC had to choose last week which game they were going to broadcast in the prime time slot Sunday Night next week. They chose the Vikings/Redskins game. Now, if the Skins win this week, that Viking/Skins clash next week has some big time playoff juice. So, if you like that angle, you take the Skins here and the Vikings on Monday Night. For us, we jus see a close game here that goes either way, making the +4.5 attractive. Redskins +4.5
